Welcome

Building the Bridge Between Learning and Community

The University of Massachusetts Dartmouth seeks to prepare students for life as active and engaged citizens. To aid in this endeavor, the Leduc Center for Civic Engagement strives to provide the University with activities that meet the challenge of providing active student learning opportunities while meeting and addressing community needs.

Defining Community Engagement

The University has adopted the Carnegie Foundation’s definition of Community Engagement as a construct to build our students’ experiences. We believe that the integration of learning and service is a powerful tool for enhancing student learning and increasing student engagement with the ultimate goal of creating a more just society.

“Community Engagement describes the collaborations between institutions of higher education and their larger communities (local, regional/state, national, global) for the mutually beneficial exchange of knowledge and resources in a context of partnership and reciprocity.

The purpose of community engagement is the partnership of college and university knowledge and resources with those of the public and private sectors to enrich scholarship, research, and creative activity; enhance curriculum, teaching and learning; prepare educated, engaged citizens; strengthen democratic values and civic responsibility; address critical societal issues; and contribute to the public good.”

To provide the opportunities for community engagement, the Leduc Center has created programs and events where the campus community – faculty, staff, and students – has the potential to interact and engage the community at large.